. >>> five weeks until the election. one day before the crucial presidential debate. >> both candidates working on their last minute preparations for their first face-off tomorrow night. abc's karen travers is joining us this morning with a preview of the debate. good morning, karen. >> reporter: good morning, rob. good morning, paula. it's been very quiet on the campaign trail as president obama and mitt romney hunkers down and prepares for wednesday's debate. a new abc news/"washington post" poll shows a very tight race. both campaigns see tomorrow night as a big opportunity. >> reporter: this presidential campaign has been going on for nearly two years, and finally it's debate season for the nominees. the time when americans seem to really start paying attention. president obama's rehearsing with senator john kerry and mitt romney is squaring off against senator rob portman. both candidates have challenges and checklists. president obama is working on shorter answers, trying to avoid sounding like the professor he was